In the midst of a busy world, there’s a place in St. Paul that is dedicated to supporting people where they are in their spiritual journey. It’s a peaceful and quiet place — a place that is ecumenical in its approach.
That ecumenical approach led this ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Paul Province, in 2008 to call an ordained Lutheran (ELCA) pastor, Barbara Lund, as its director. The ministry goes under the name Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality.
In areas of the convent where novices and nuns in the order went about their daily lives, there are now retreats (some residential) and shorter daily programs open to people of all faiths. There are programs for individuals as well as communities of justice. Year-round programming includes theological discussions, exploration of Celtic spirituality, meditation, even mindful eating (concentrating on food as it relates to the environment and health), and much more.
A new venture coming up in July will be “Peace Camp! — Visioning Peace with One Another and Earth in a Digital Age.” A day camp for girls and boys ages 8-12, it will include sharing deep reverence for Earth and social justice. Presenters will include musicians, artists, and writers.
Another opportunity is the monthly Spiritual Spa, a short day program of reflection aimed at refreshing the spirit and quieting the mind. These sessions are free and open to all.
There are also programs on elder spirituality and men’s spirituality, the latter including a program for returning soldiers and their families. On the center’s grounds there is a 70-square-foot labyrinth which can be used for weddings and commitment ceremonies. In May, a “Pilgrimage of Peace: A Tour of Intention” is scheduled. This day-long pilgrimage will include several Twin Cities labyrinths. “Each stop will include a ritual to deepen our encounter as we create a space for peace within ourselves and around the world,” the program guide reads.
How did Pastor Barbara Lund come to direct this ecumenical ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet? The Woodville, Wisconsin, native and Augsburg College graduate had most recently directed Global Mission Events for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, traveling extensively in Asian countries since 1995. She experienced a yearning for home and had found community in the Twin Cities while at Augsburg and as a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church (ELCA) in the Phillips area of Minneapolis.
Within 12 hours of each other, three friends of Lund’s, knowing her yearning for “home,” called to tell her of the opening at the Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality. Pastor Lund determined that the Spirit was speaking to her. The Sisters of St. Joseph were seeking to connect more with other Christian congregations. With their emphasis on love of God and neighbor without distinction, the Sisters hired an ordained ELCA pastor to speak to ecumenism.
Their goal was expanding the reach of the center in exploring theological discourse, providing opportunities to learn other spiritual practices and providing a place for intellectual inquiry. For Pastor Lund it meant serving in a specialized ministry call and being rostered in the St. Paul Area Synod of the ELCA.
Since its founding in 1994, the Wisdom Ways Center for Spirituality has hosted well over 6,000 participants in its programs. From founding through 2004, the Center had joint sponsors in the Sisters of St. Joseph and adjacent College of St. Catherine. In 2004 the center became solely a ministry of the Sisters of St. Joseph. The goal from the start of the center has been to provide life-giving spiritual conversations with credible and relevant information.
Most of the center’s sessions are held at Carondolet Center, 1890 Randolph Av., St. Paul. But, some sessions are held in facilities of Lutheran congregations and other denominations throughout the Twin Cities. For program and direction information, check the Web site: www.wisdomwayscenter.org. The Wisdom Ways office phone number is 651/696-2788. The direct line to Pastor Barbara Lund is 651/696-2790.
